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Jason Farmer / Staff Photographer
New owners of the Banshee, Nick and Amy Shursky, stand behind the restaurant's bar at 302 Penn Ave. in Scranton. "We wanted a business we could run together," Mrs. Shursky said.

Editor's Note: This story was published on July 10, 2010. As of Thursday March 7, 2012, The Banshee is closed. It has applied for a temporary liquor license to serve alcohol at the building. Read our most recent article about it here:

The Banshee, one of Scranton's best-known Irish pubs and restaurants, has changed hands.

Amy and Nicholas Shursky of Factoryville are the new owners of the restaurant at 322 Penn Ave.

Other than equipment upgrades and minor renovations, Mrs. Shurksy said she and her husband will keep the Banshee's formula of traditional Irish food, live music and good service.

Mr. and Ms. Shursky, 33 and 32, respectively, who have known each other since high school in Sullivan County, said they were longtime fans of the restaurant, known for its tin ceilings, exposed brick walls, Irish memorabilia and dim "snugs."

The restaurant was for sale and, for a year, they discussed purchasing it, but were busy planning their wedding. After they married in April, they worked toward a deal.

"We wanted a business we could run together," Mrs. Shursky said. "We have loved this building and the business for years."

According to public records, the Shurskys, who also operate a New Milford quarry, Bluestone Supply LLC, bought the three-story building for $500,000. They purchased the business in June. They declined to disclose the purchase price.

The Shurskys both have experience in the restaurant and bar business as kitchen and waitstaff. The kitchen will be operated by Mr. Shursky's mother, Sue Shursky, who had been a cook in upstate New York.

The couple upgraded some kitchen equipment, including the freezer and fryer. They added televisions to the bar. While not part of the Irish pub playbook, regulars welcomed the televisions, particularly for the World Cup soccer tournament. The Shurskys plan to refinish the floors and make other minor improvements.

The restaurant was founded in 2001 by a trio of owners - Kathleen Rogers, Melanie Call and Kathleen Hogan. In its first years of operation, the bar hosted a number of Irish activists at a time when political violence and strife racked Northern Ireland. People such as human rights activists Oistin MacBride and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams spoke to sympathetic crowds there. The bar is considered by many to be a must-visit on St. Patrick's Parade Day. Since 2001 several other restaurants, including Irish pubs, have opened downtown, giving the Banshee more competition, but not enough to worry Mrs. Shursky.

"More options makes the downtown a destination, and when here, people will jump around," she said. "We're going to keep the regulars, bring in new people and focus on service."

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

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